LEWISBURG, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Governor Jim Justice has apparently given up his battle to be named to a second high school coaching position in Greenbrier County.
One of his lawyers, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Ruby, announced late Tuesday afternoon that Justice is no longer a candidate to coach boys basketball at Greenbrier East High School. He remains the girls coach at GEHS.
Ruby had been representing representing Justice in the grievance he filed with Greenbrier County Schools last week. Ruby said Tuesday the complaint will be withdrawn.
The announcement apparently ends Justice’s involvement in what had become a protracted hiring process. Most recently, the Governor had filed a grievance when the Greenbrier Board of Education voted not to hire him on a 3-2 vote.
Those opposing the selection cited Justice’s own admissions that he would not have time to run team practices. He said his primary responsibility would be coaching actual games.
“We need to move forward,” Justice said in a letter distributed by Ruby. “Pick a coach. The kids deserve that and I wish them all the success.”
Despite withdrawing, Justice got another lick in. “Everyone believes unanimously that if we proceed to court, Jim Justice will be the head boys’ basketball coach,” he wrote.
“Any court would deem this level of activity is manifestly arbitrary and capricious,” Justice said in the letter. Typically, an aggrieved party must show decision-making was arbitrary and capricious.
The boys coaching position was left open when Vernal “Bimbo” Coles resigned on July 6. Coles had replaced Justice in 2017 when the Governor resigned the boys job citing time limitations.
Prior to resigning the boys position, Justice had coached both teams at GEHS.
Superintendent Jeff Bryant recommended Justice, which set of controversy since Bryant is also an employee of the Justice family’s Greenbrier Resort.
Justice remained adamant in his withdrawal letter. “Does the hate of these board members hurt? Of course, it does,” Justice said. “When you love your school and community as I do — it really hurts.”
He pledged devotion to the girls job. “I will excitedly coach the girls and as always, they will succeed,” Justice said in the letter.